Reuse & Permissions

It is not necessary to obtain permission to reuse this article or its components as it is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI are maintained. Please note that some figures may have been included with permission from other third parties. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper permission from the rights holder directly for these figures.

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Open Access

Nonlinear realization approach to extended supergravity theories in three dimensions

Jake C. Stirling*

  • *Contact author: jake.stirling@research.uwa.edu.au

Phys. Rev. D 112, 125005 – Published 1 December, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/9cxd-fn2q

Abstract

We elaborate on the nonlinear realization approach to spontaneously broken supergravity in three dimensions presented by Kuzenko and Stirling [Proc. R. Soc. A 479, 20230350 (2023)]. Using this approach, we provide a novel derivation of N-extended supergravity, with and without a cosmological term. It corresponds to a Stückelberg-type extension of the following theories: (i) the (p,q) anti–de Sitter (AdS) supergravity theories with p+q=N, p≥q≥0 proposed by Achúcarro and Townsend and (ii) the N-extended Poincaré supergravity of Marcus and Schwarz. We also apply the approach to obtain a Stückelberg reformulation of the supersymmetric Lorentz Chern-Simons action for arbitrary N. In our construction, the pure supergravity actions (Poincaré and AdS) share the invariance under two different local N-extended supersymmetries. One of them acts on the Goldstini, while the other supersymmetry leaves the Goldstini inert. The N-extended supersymmetric Lorentz Chern-Simons action proposed in our setting shares the former supersymmetry, but differs in the one that leaves the Goldstini inert. The supersymmetry that acts on the Goldstini can be used to gauge them away, and then the resulting actions coincide with that given in the literature.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Article Text

References (57)

  1. S. R. Coleman, J. Wess, and B. Zumino, Structure of phenomenological Lagrangians. 1, Phys. Rev. 177, 2239 (1969).
  2. C. G. Callan, Jr., S. R. Coleman, J. Wess, and B. Zumino, Structure of phenomenological Lagrangians. 2, Phys. Rev. 177, 2247 (1969).
  3. C. J. Isham, A group-theoretic approach to chiral transformations, Nuovo Cimento A 59, 356 (1969).
  4. A. Salam and J. A. Strathdee, Nonlinear realizations. 1. The role of Goldstone bosons, Phys. Rev. 184, 1750 (1969).
  5. D. V. Volkov, Phenomenological Lagrangians, Sov. J. Part. Nucl. 4, 1 (1973), https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4340109.
  6. V. I. Ogievetsky, Nonlinear realizations of internal and space-time symmetries, in Proceeding of 10th Karpacz Winter School of Theoretical Physics (Acta Univ., Wroclaw, 1974), Vol. 1, pp. 117–132.
  7. A. Salam and J. A. Strathdee, Nonlinear realizations. 2. Conformal symmetry, Phys. Rev. 184, 1760 (1969).
  8. C. J. Isham, A. Salam, and J. A. Strathdee, Spontaneous breakdown of conformal symmetry, Phys. Lett. B 31, 300 (1970).
  9. C. J. Isham, A. Salam, and J. A. Strathdee, Nonlinear realizations of space-time symmetries. Scalar and tensor gravity, Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 62, 98 (1971).
  10. B. Zumino, Effective Lagrangians and broken symmetries, in Lectures on Elementary Particles and Quantum Field Theory, Vol. 2, edited by S. Deser, M. Grisaru, and H. Pendleton (M.I.T. Press Cambridge, MA, 1970), pp. 437–500.
  11. E. A. Ivanov and V. I. Ogievetsky, The inverse Higgs phenomenon in nonlinear realizations, Teor. Mat. Fiz. 25, 164 (1975) [Theor. Math. Phys. 25, 1050 (1975)].
  12. M. Bando, T. Kugo, and K. Yamawaki, Nonlinear realization and hidden local symmetries, Phys. Rep. 164, 217 (1988).
  13. I. N. McArthur, Nonlinear realizations of symmetries and unphysical Goldstone bosons, J. High Energy Phys. 11 (2010) 140.
  14. D. V. Volkov and V. P. Akulov, Possible universal neutrino interaction, Pis’ma Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 16, 621 (1972) [JETP Lett. 16, 438 (1972)]; Is the neutrino a Goldstone particle?, Phys. Lett. 46B, 109 (1973).
  15. V. P. Akulov and D. V. Volkov, Goldstone fields with spin 1/2, Teor. Mat. Fiz. 18, 39 (1974) [Theor. Math. Phys. 18, 28 (1974)].
  16. D. V. Volkov and V. A. Soroka, Higgs effect for Goldstone particles with spin 1/2, in Supersymmetry and Quantum Field Theory, edited by J. Wess and V. P. Akulov Lecture Notes in Physics Vol. 509 (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 1998), 10.1007/BFb0105271.
  17. D. V. Volkov and V. A. Soroka, Gauge fields for symmetry group with spinor parameters, Teor. Mat. Fiz. 20, 291 (1974) [Theor. Math. Phys. 20, 829 (1974)].
  18. D. V. Volkov, Supergravity before and after 1976, in: Concise Encyclopedia of Supersymmetry and Noncommutative Structure in Mathematics and Physics, edited by S. Duplij, W. Siegel, and J. Bagger (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2004), pp. 6–9.
  19. D. V. Volkov, Supergravity before 1976, in: History of Original Ideas and Basic Discoveries in Particle Physics, edited by H. B. Newman and T. Ypsilantis (Plenum Press, New York, 1996), pp. 663–675.
  20. I. Bandos, L. Martucci, D. Sorokin, and M. Tonin, Brane induced supersymmetry breaking and de Sitter supergravity, J. High Energy Phys. 02 (2016) 080.
  21. S. M. Kuzenko, Local supersymmetry: Variations on a theme by Volkov and Soroka, Proc. R. Soc. A 479, 20230022 (2023).
  22. S. Deser and B. Zumino, Consistent supergravity, Phys. Lett. 62B, 335 (1976).
  23. S. M. Kuzenko and J. C. Stirling, Nonlinear realisation approach to topologically massive supergravity, Proc. R. Soc. A 479, 20230350 (2023).
  24. P. S. Howe and R. W. Tucker, Local supersymmetry in (2+1) dimensions. 1. Supergravity and differential forms, J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.) 19, 869 (1978).
  25. P. S. Howe and R. W. Tucker, A locally supersymmetric and reparametrization invariant action for a spinning membrane, J. Phys. A 10, L155 (1977); Local supersymmetry in (2+1) dimensions. 2. An action for a spinning membrane, J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.) 19, 981 (1978).
  26. S. Deser and J. H. Kay, Topologically massive supergravity, Phys. Lett. 120B, 97 (1983).
  27. S. Deser, Cosmological topological supergravity, in Quantum Theory of Gravity, edited by S. M. Christensen (Adam Hilger, Bristol, 1984), pp. 374–381.
  28. A. Achúcarro and P. K. Townsend, A Chern-Simons action for three-dimensional anti-de Sitter supergravity theories, Phys. Lett. B 180, 89 (1986).
  29. N. Marcus and J. H. Schwarz, Three-dimensional supergravity theories, Nucl. Phys. B228, 145 (1983).
  30. U. Lindström and M. Roček, Superconformal gravity in three dimensions as a gauge theory, Phys. Rev. Lett. 62, 2905 (1989).
  31. H. Nishino and S. J. Gates, Jr., Chern-Simons theories with supersymmetries in three-dimensions, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 08, 3371 (1993).
  32. S. M. Kuzenko and G. Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli, Three-dimensional N=2 (AdS) supergravity and associated supercurrents, J. High Energy Phys. 12 (2011) 052.
  33. S. J. Gates, Jr., M. T. Grisaru, M. Rocek, and W. Siegel, Superspace, or one thousand and one lessons in supersymmetry, Front. Phys. 58, 1 (1983).
  34. B. M. Zupnik and D. G. Pak, Superfield formulation of the simplest three-dimensional gauge theories and conformal supergravities, Teor. Mat. Fiz. 77, 97 (1988) [Theor. Math. Phys. 77, 1070 (1988)].
  35. S. M. Kuzenko, U. Lindström, and G. Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli, Off-shell supergravity-matter couplings in three dimensions, J. High Energy Phys. 03 (2011) 120.
  36. S. M. Kuzenko, U. Lindström, M. Roček, I. Sachs, and G. Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli, Three-dimensional N=2 supergravity theories: From superspace to components, Phys. Rev. D 89, 085028 (2014).
  37. S. M. Kuzenko and J. Novak, Supergravity-matter actions in three dimensions and Chern-Simons terms, J. High Energy Phys. 05 (2014) 093.
  38. S. M. Kuzenko, J. Novak, and I. Sachs, Minimal N=4 topologically massive supergravity, J. High Energy Phys. 03 (2017) 109.
  39. P. van Nieuwenhuizen, D=3 conformal supergravity and Chern-Simons terms, Phys. Rev. D 32, 872 (1985).
  40. M. Roček and P. van Nieuwenhuizen, N≥2 supersymmetric Chern-Simons terms as d=3 extended conformal supergravity, Classical Quantum Gravity 3, 43 (1986).
  41. D. Butter, S. M. Kuzenko, J. Novak, and G. Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli, Conformal supergravity in three dimensions: Off-shell actions, J. High Energy Phys. 10 (2013) 073.
  42. D. Butter, S. M. Kuzenko, J. Novak, and G. Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli, Conformal supergravity in three dimensions: New off-shell formulation, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2013) 072.
  43. M. Nishimura and Y. Tanii, N=6 conformal supergravity in three dimensions, J. High Energy Phys. 10 (2013) 123.
  44. S. M. Kuzenko, J. Novak, and G. Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli, N=6 superconformal gravity in three dimensions from superspace, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2014) 121.
  45. S. M. Kuzenko, J. Park, G. Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli, and R. von Unge, Off-shell superconformal nonlinear sigma-models in three dimensions, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2011) 146.
  46. P. K. Townsend and P. van Nieuwenhuizen, Geometrical interpretation of extended supergravity, Phys. Lett. 67B, 439 (1977).
  47. A. H. Chamseddine and P. C. West, Supergravity as a gauge theory of supersymmetry, Nucl. Phys. B129, 39 (1977).
  48. P. S. Howe, J. M. Izquierdo, G. Papadopoulos, and P. K. Townsend, New supergravities with central charges and Killing spinors in 2+1 dimensions, Nucl. Phys. B467, 183 (1996).
  49. W. Siegel, Unextended superfields in extended supersymmetry, Nucl. Phys. B156, 135 (1979).
  50. R. Jackiw and S. Templeton, How super-renormalizable interactions cure their infrared divergences, Phys. Rev. D 23, 2291 (1981).
  51. J. F. Schonfeld, A mass term for three-dimensional gauge fields, Nucl. Phys. B185, 157 (1981).
  52. S. Deser, R. Jackiw, and S. Templeton, Three-dimensional massive gauge theories, Phys. Rev. Lett. 48, 975 (1982).
  53. S. Deser, R. Jackiw, and S. Templeton, Topologically massive gauge theories, Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 140, 372 (1982); 185, 406(E) (1988).
  54. A. Routh, The Hamiltonian form of topologically massive supergravity, Phys. Rev. D 88, 024022 (2013).
  55. D. Z. Freedman, P. van Nieuwenhuizen, and S. Ferrara, Progress toward a theory of supergravity, Phys. Rev. D 13, 3214 (1976).
  56. V. P. Akulov, D. V. Volkov, and V. A. Soroka, Generally covariant theories of gauge fields on superspace, Teor. Mat. Fiz. 31, 12 (1977) [Theor. Math. Phys. 31, 285 (1977)].
  57. P. K. Townsend, Cosmological constant in supergravity, Phys. Rev. D 15, 2802 (1977).

Outline

Information

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation